Subtlety (WoW Talent Tree)

Subtlety is the rogue talent tree that focus on the use of stealth and dirty tricks. Over time, it has also come to be known as the best option for pvp focused rogue. Subtlety is often referred to as 'Shadowstep spec'.

Primary uses

Subtlety at first focus on increase the Rogue's stealth but as you go down the path for it, it start to increase the rogue's ability to survive as well as his mobility. The corner stone of this tree are Preparation (which resets other cooldowns), Hemorrhage (which becomes the new spammable attack), Shadow Step (a great mobility increase) as well as Cheat Death (a huge survivability increase). This make Subtlety Rogue hard to control, hard to get away from and capable of building combo points and finisher at an alarming rate.

Before the Burning Crusade, Subtlety was often considered a 'dagger' tree, but things have changed and now rogues going down this tree will usually favor slower and bigger 1 handed weapon, following the same creed for weapon selection as their Combat brethren.

Despite many attempt by Blizzard, Subtlety remain a poor man's choice for PVE damage output. Despite this, the increased mobility and the many ways to get out of sticky situation that this build provides has made it the king of pvp.

Tier 7

Premeditation (1) (Requires 1 point in Preparation) - When used, adds 2 combo points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 10 seconds or the combo points are lost.

Cheat Death (3) - You have a 33%/66%/100% chance that an attack which would otherwise kill you will instead reduce you to 10% of your maximum health. In addition, all damage taken will be reduced by up to 90% for 3 seconds (modified by resilience). This effect cannot occur more than once per minute.

Tier 8

(35 points required)

Sinister Calling (5) (Requires 1 point in Premeditation) - Increases your total Agility by 3%/6%/9%/12%/15% and increases the percentage damage bonus of Backstab and Hemorrhage by an additional 2%/4%/6%/8%/10%.

Tier 9

(40 points required)

Honor Among Thieves (3) - When a member of your party critically hit, you have 33/66/100% change to gain a combo point on your current target. This effect cannot occur more then once every second.

Shadowstep (1) - Attempts to step through the shadows and reappear behind your enemy and increases movement speed by 70% for 3 seconds. The damage of your next ability is increased by 20% and the threat caused is reduced by 50%. Lasts 10 seconds.

Filthy Tricks (2) - Reduce the cooldown of your Trick of the trade and Distract abilities by 2.5/5 sec and preparation by 2.5/5 minutes.

Tier 10

(45 points required)

Slaughter from the Shadows (5) - Reduce the energy cost of your ambush and backstab by 3/6/9/12/15 and your Hemorrhage by 1/2/3/4/5.

Tier 11

(50 points required)

Shadow Dance (1) - Enter the shadow dance, allowing the use of Sap, Cheap Shot, Garotte, Ambush, Pickpocket and Disarm Trap regardless of being Stealthed. Those abilities all gain a cooldown of 2 second. Last 10 seconds.